Shingle means



May 28, 1963 'r. R. PATTERSON 3,091,058

SHINGLE MEANS I Filed Sept. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 THUMAS RPATT ERSUN IN V EN TOR.

3,991,058 SHINGLE IVLEANS Thomas R. Patterson, 9% E. Rainbow Drive, Memphis, Tenn. Filed Sept. 30, 1959, Ser. 1 o. 343,416 1 Claim. (Cl. 50-225) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shingle means, both with respect to individual shingles and with respect to strip shingles consisting of two or more units integrally connected in a strip.

The invention is specifically concerned with shingles of flexible material composition in conventional patterns which when laid provide roofs of symmetrical and attractive appearances, having their exposed tab portions unsecured with the consequent hazard of their being turned up by the wind.

In my Patent No. 2,829,607 I have shown and described shingles for application to roof surfaces which include integral flaps for securing exposed tab portions of superposed shingle means against undesired separation under the influence of strong winds md similar forces. It has been established, however, that wide tab exposures have a greater tendency to raise when exposed to winds of high velocity than do narrow tab exposures and if same become separated from their required lock devices the loose tabs are then extremely hazardous to blowing up even under average wind exposures.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an interlocking means for securing exposed tab portions of superposed individual and strip shingles in substantimy conventional patterns against undesired separation from the underlying material.

Another object is to provide individual and strip shingles which when laid will make roof coverings in conventional patterns having an interlocking means for securing the tab portions, with the least amount of material to cover a given area.

A further object is to provide individual and strip shingles having an interlocking means for securing the tab portions that can be cut from conventional widths of flexible roofing material with a minimum of waste.

A further object of the invention is to provide sh ngle means having an interlocking means for accurately alining and positioning superposed means relative to subjacent shingle means.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a square butt pattern strip shingle embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of the device of FIG. 1, further illustrating the details of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the shingle showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view on the scale of FIG. 1, illustrating the relationship of a plurality of strip shingles of FIG. 1 embodying the present invention laid up in a shingling covering and illustrating the invention.

FIG. 5 is a face view of an individual shingle embodying the present invention in the square butt pattern, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a face or plan view of a modified pattern form of strip shingle embodying the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of the device of FIG. 6 further illustrating the details of the pres ent invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view on the scale of FIG. 6, illustrating the relationship of a plurality of the strip shingles of FIG. 6 in use position.

tates atnt FIG. 9 is a face View of a modified for-m of individual shingle pattern embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, it will be observed that the embodiments of the present invention provide for the inclusion in conventional pattern individual and strip shingles of interlocking flaps formed from the material of the body portion and the interlocking flaps integral of tab sides and complementary slots formed from material of the tab portions.

In FIG. 1 a square-butt pattern, strip shingle 15 of generally rectangular shape, is shown which is formed of any suitable shingling material, preferably of flexible composite material. Strip shingle 15 comprises a body portion 16 which extends throughout the length of the strip shingle and which includes the uppermost edge of the strip shingle. The body portion forms that portion of the strip shingle, which when the strip shingle is laid up as a roof covering, comprises the portion of the strip underlying the next superposed or subjacent shingle strip. Extending downwardly from body portion 16 are a plurality of shingle tabs 17, which comprise, upon laying up of the shingle strip, the portions extending beyond and below the next superposed shingle means, as the exposed portions which are subject to the influence of the elements and weather. Each of the tabs 17 is defined by lateral free edges 19, the edges 19 of adjacent tabs 17 being spaced apart by cutouts 21, and one end of strip 15 being preferably respectively provided with a full cut-out 21A defining the endmost free edges -19 of adjacent tabs 17 when a plurality of strips 15 are laid in end to end relation. It will be understood that while the provision of a full cut-out at one end of the strip is preferred the strip may be formed if desired with half cuttits at the opposite ends of the strip.

It will be observed that the upper extremity of the respective cut-outs 21, 21A are in transverse alinement with the upper extremity of the respective shingle tabs 17, and thus define the line of junction between the shingle tabs and the body of the shingle, this line of junction being indicated on FIG. 1 by the dotted line A. The body portion 16 above the line of junction between the tabs 17 and the body portion 16 is slitted as at 2% to define a plurality of interlocking flaps integrally of the material of the body portion.

In the preferred embodiment the intermediate cut-out 21 has at least one of the slits 2a) in communication therewith, the slit extending from the cut-out into the body portion and returning downwardly towards the line of junction A, terminating substantially at the line of junction in a relief portion 22. Preferably at least one end of the strip shingle 15 is provided with a slit 2t} extending from the cut-out into the body portion, and returning downwardly towards the line of junction A terminating substantially at the line of junction in a relief portion 22, as already described.

The relief portions 22 are provided to prevent tearing of the shingle material when the interlocking flaps are raised for the introduction of an edged portion of a superposed shingle therebeneath. It will be seen that the inter locking flaps 18 are integrally connected with extending shingle tabs 17, and that the interlocking flaps extend upwardly from the uppermost portion of the shingle tabs, terminating at a free edge which extends upwardly towards the body portion.

in the preferred embodiment each bottom edge 23 of the tabs 17 is slit upwardly as at 24- (see FIG. 2), which slit engages with a horizontal slot 25 at a point substantially intermediate of the lower edge 26, 26A of slot 25 to define a complementary slot formed from material of the tabs 17. The slits 24 are provided to prevent tearing of the shingle material and to expedite insertion of interlocking flaps 13 into the slots. It will be understood the slots 25 could function as complementary slots without the slits 24, in which case the slit 24 is eliminated.

It will be seen that in the embodiment described above each of the cut-outs 21, 21A is provided with at least one interlocking flap 18 formed integrallyof the material of the body portion and extending upwardly from, and substantially comprising an extension of, one of the free edges 19 of the tab, also each of the tabs 17 is provided with at least one complementary slot 25, which is best shown in FIG. 2 as formed from material of the tab 17.

The complementary slots'ZS are elongated and preferably though not essentially of trapezoidal shape, and of sufiicient width and length to freely receive a top portion of interlocking flaps 18 and each of the tabs 17 is preferably slitted substantially intermediate of bottom edge 26, 26A of slots 25 then downwardly through the bottom edges 23 of the tabs 1'7. The slots 25 are positioned in the tab portions to properly receive a top portion of interlocking flaps 18 of the underlying shingle body portions and to overlap a top portion of interlocking flaps 18. The complementary slots 25 are preferably cut out as shown in PEG. 2 though could also be formed by slitting only the material of the tab as shown in FIG. 3 as at 28 then downwardly as at 27 through the lower edge 23 of tabs 17 thereby forming the complementary slot 29, 29A. It will also be seen that the slots 25 and 29, 29A have a length greater than their width.

As shown in FIG. 4 a strip shingle of FIG. 1 may be laid up to produce a shingle covering pattern, with the tabs 17 constituting the exposed portions of the shingles. As can readily be seen the lower edges of the superposed shingle 15 have been inserted beneath the interlocking flaps 18 .of the subjacent strips. A top portion of interlocking flaps 18 is next inserted into the complementary slots 25 of the superposed shingle strips and as the slits 20 terminate at the line of junction between the tabs 17 and the body portion 16 the lower edges of the tabs of the superposed strip are lowered into solid seating engagement with the terminal relief portions 22 and a top portion of each interlocking flap 18 extends into the slot 25 and under a portion of the tab 17 directly above the slot 25 in the superposed shingle tabs, and the superposed shingle is thus accurately and positively alined in the desired position, effecting covering of body portion 16, leaving the precise exact extent of shingle tabs 17 exposed therebeyond. The successive shingle strips are secured in usual fashion as by nailing to the underlying supporting surface. It thus will be seen that the interlocking flaps 18 and complementary slots 25 serve as guides and position limiting means, enabling a substantial increase in the speed of laying up the roof covering by insuring the desired accuracy of positioning and in addition a top portion of interlocking flaps 18 and cornplementary slots 25 interlock and effectively serve to lock down the lower free edges of the superposed tabs 17, substantially preventing the separation of the tabs 17 from the underlying material under the influence of high winds or other conditions.

In FIG. 5 an embodiment of the present invention, in an individual shingle 343', is illustrated. Shingle 3%} comprises a body portion 31 joined along a junction line,

.indicated by the dotted line B to a single tab 32 which projects away from the body portion and is integrally connected thereto. Preferably one of the free ends 34 of the projecting shingle tab 32 is provided with a full cut-out 35 though the shingle may be formed with half cut-outs at each free end 34 of the projecting shingle tab 32. Preferably the body portion 31 above the line of junction B is slitted as at 36 to define an interlocking flap 33 formed integrally of the material of the body portion and the slit extends into the body portion from an upper end of the shingle tab and returns downwardly terminating substantially at the line of junction in a relief portion 37,

and as already described. Preferably the bottom edge 33 of the tab 32 is slit upwardly as at 39 which slit engages with a slot 4d having a length greater than the Width at a point substantially intermediate of the lower edge 41, 41A of slot ditto define a complementary locking slot formed from the material of the tab 32. The slit 39, as already described, is rovided to prevent tearing of the material and to expedite insertion of the interlocking flap 33 into the slot 4% It will be understood the slot 4t? could function as a complementary slot without the slit 3;? in which case the slit 39 is eliminated. It

will be obvious that the cut-out 35 provides spacingbe tween adjacent tabs 32 of shingles 3t enhancing the appearance of the roof covering and further serving to accurately aline courses of the'shingle across the roof deck.

It can be readily seen that in laying up roof coverings of shingle, the position of a superposed shingle 30 is the same as that described for strip shingle 15 as shown in FIG. 4, with the bottom edge of the superposed shingle 3% being inserted beneath the interlocking flap 33 of the subjacent shingle. A top portion of the interlocking flap 33 is next inserted into the slot 40 of the superposed shingle 30 and the shingle is lowered into solid seating engagement with the terminal relief portion 37 and a top portion of each interlocking flap 33 extends under a portion of each tab 32 directly above the slots in the superposed shingle tabs 32, and effectively serving to lock down the lower edge of the superposed tab 32 by inter-- locking a top portion of the interlocking flap 33 within the complementary slot 49 insuring desired accuracy of positioning and further insuring against the separation of especially wide tab exposures from the underlying material during long periods of exposures to high winds.

in FIG. 6 a modified form of strip shingle 42 is shown. trip shingle 42 comprises a body portion 43 which extends throughout the length of the strip shingle and which includes the uppermost edge of the strip shingle. A plurality of shingle tabs 44 projects downwardly from body portion 43. The shingle tabs 44 are preferably rectangular in shape though not essentially and the shingle strip is provided with an enlarged cut-out 45 between the shingle tabs 44 defining the approximate free edges 46 of tabs 44. The strip shingle 42 at its opposite ends is provided with cut-outs 45A defining the remote free edges 47 of tabs 44. It will be observed that the cut-outs 45, 45A extend into the material of strip shingle 42 and terminate substantially at the line of junction, indicated by the dotted line C between tabs 44 and body portion 43. Additionally the cut-outs 45, 45A are so arranged as to form the tabs 44 of a desired geometrical shape, which, when laid up in courses (see FIG. 8) produce attractive and similar patterns over the roof area. The cut-out 45 is of substantially the same size and shape as each of the tabs 44, thus exposing, when laid up, a portion of an underlying shingle means having a size and shape, reversely disposed, substantially equivalent to the size and shape of the tabs 44. The cut-outs 45A, when a plurality of shingles 4 2 are laid in end to end relation, provide a space between adjoining tabs 44 of substantially the same size and shape as the tabs 44.

The body 43, adjacent junction. line C and also adjacent cut-outs 45, 45A is additionally slit as at 48 to define a plurality of interlocking flaps 49. It will be seen that each of the slits 48 includes a portion spaced from the junction line, and preferably the slits 48 each terminates in a relief portion Sii similar to the relief portions 22 heretofore described. .It will further be seen that preferably adjacent cut-out 45 the body is provided with a pair of the slits 48, and consequently with a pair of interlocking flaps 49 and that when a strip shingle 42 is laid up adjacent to an additional strip shingle 42., two

paired adjacency. Preferably each of the slits 48 terminates in a relief portion 50 substantially in alinement with the upper ends of free edges 46, 47 and the spaced relation between corresponding free edges of tabs 44. It will be observed that each of the interlocking flaps 49 is integrally connected to a tab 44 and projects into the body 43 beyond the junction line C.

It will further be seen that preferably each free edge 46, 47 of the tabs 44 is slit as at 51 which slit engages With a slot 52 at a point substantially intermediate of lower edge 53, 53A of slot 52 (see FIG. 7) to define a pair of complementary slots formed from material of each tab portion. The slit 51 is similar to the slit 24 and serves the same purpose as heretofore described.

In laying up of strip shingle 42 as shown in FIG. 8, the superposed strip shingle is positioned by inserting the lower free edges of tabs 44 beneath the interlocking flaps 49 of the underlying strip shingle and then inserting a top portion of the interlocking flaps 49 of the underlying strip shingle into the slots 52 of the superposed shingle strip and as the slits 48 terminate in a relief portion at a point substantially in alinement with the upper ends of free edges 46, 47 and the spaced relation between corresponding lower free edges of tabs 44 of the superposed shingle strip the lower free edges of the tabs 44 of the supelposed shingle strip are shifted into solid seating engagement with the relief portions 54} and the superposed shingle strip is thus accurately and positively alined in the desired position with a top portion of the interlocking flap in the underlying shingle extending under a portion of each tab directly above the slots in the superposed shingle strip providing interlocking strength to further prevent the tabs from raising in the wind, or other conditions.

In FIG. 9 an embodiment of the present invention, in another form of modified pattern is shown in individual shingle 54. Shingle 54 comprises a body portion 55 joined along a junction line, indicated by dotted line D, to a single tab 56 which projects away from the body portion and is integrally connected thereto. The tab 56 is spaced inwardly of opposite free side margins of the shingle body portion 55 to provide a space between adjoining tabs of a plurality of shingle 54 when laid in end to end relation substantially equal in area to the area of a tab 56. Preferably the body portion 55 above the junction line D is slitted as at 60 to define a pair of interlockflaps 57 formed integrally of material of the body portion and the slits 60 extend into the body portion from opposite upper ends of the shingle tab 56 terminating in a relief portion 61 spaced into the body portion and substantially in alinement with the upper ends of free edges 58 and the spaced relation between corresponding lower free edges 58 of the tab 56 of a superposed shingle 54, and as already described. It will further be seen that preferably each free edge 58 of the tab 56 is slit as at 62 which slits engage with slots 63 at a point intermediate of the slots 63 to define a pair of complementary slots 63 having a length greater than the width and formed from material of the tab 56. The slits 62 are similar to the slit 24 and serves the same purpose as heretofore described.

In laying up roof coverings of shingle 54, the positioning of a superposed shingle is the same as that already described for strip shingle 42 as shown in FIG. 8, with the lower free edges of the tab of the superposed shingle 54 being inserted beneath the pair of interlocking flaps 57 of the subjacent shingle. A top portion of the interlocking flaps 57 of the underlying shingle is next inserted into the slots 63 of the superposed shingle and as the slits 60 terminate in a relief portion 61 spaced into the body portion substantially in alinement with the upper ends of free edges 58 and the spaced relation between corresponding lower free edges of the tab 56 of the superposed shingle 54 the superposed shingle is shifted into solid seating engagement with the terminal relief portions 61 and a top portion of the pair of interlocking flaps in each subjacent shingle 54 extends under a portion of each tab directly above the slots in the superposed shingle tab effectively serving to lock down the lower side edges of the superposed shingle tabs 56, in precisely the same manner as that described for strip shingle 42 in FIG. 8.

It will be observed that while the strips and individual shingles are shown in only certain patterns the cut of the pattern of the shingles is optional as also is the method of forming the top edge of the shingle.

It will further be understood that the various methods of forming the slots for interlocking with a top portion of the interlocking flaps integrally connected with the tab portions and projecting into the body portion of shingle means may be interchangeably used and may also be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

An interlocking strip shingle comprising a body portion, tabs projecting from a side of said body portion, said shingle being cut out between said tabs to separate said tabs, the opposite free ends of the shingle being formed to provide a said out out separating the adjacent tabs of a plurality of said shingles when laid in end to end relation, the tabs being of greater width than the cut outs, a flap having an extension interlocking top portion formed adjoining to an uppermost margin of each said cut out separating said tabs, each of said flaps formed integral of a tab side and being cut from material of the shingle body portion, and a horizontally disposed slot formed in the material of each tab portion, each of said slots spaced from the lower margins of said tabs and spaced one from the other to correspond to the spaced relation between the flaps, each tab being slit intermediate of and adjoining to the lower length edge of the slot and thence downwardly through the lower edge of the tabs, and said slots providing an opening having a width and length adapted for inserting of said interlocking top portion of the flaps of those shingles of each underlying course in the slot openings of the said tabs of the next overlying course of shingles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,858 McCarthy Sept. 6, 1927 1,956,732 Schulz May 1, 1934 2,829,607 Patterson Apr. 8, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES F. H. Watson Co. price list pamphlet of Oct. 10, 1928,

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